Pennsylvania Senate OKs bipartisan budget; House fate unsure

HARRISBURG – A proposal that could end Pennsylvania’s 5-month-old state budget stalemate is through the Senate and headed to the House, where rank-and-file Republicans are pushing back against a deal GOP leaders helped negotiate.
The bill passed, 43-7, on Monday, receiving wide bipartisan support. Senate officials made little analysis or detail of the plan available, and the 121-page document passed less than 24 hours after it became public.
The $30.8 billion plan includes a $350 million increase in aid to public schools, both a 6 percent increase.
Wolf, a Democrat, agreed to sign the bill after securing an agreement to raises taxes to deliver a record boost in aid to public schools and narrow a long-term budget deficit. However, the Senate hasn’t settled on a tax package to support the spending, and its House fate is uncertain.